means to be intrepid sailors, shipmates,
who treat one another with respect and
compassion.”
Meanwhile, the sailor with the clerical
collar joined the Clearwater Yacht Club in
2000 and became its chaplain in 2011.
CYC’s youth sailing program had been
undergoing some changes, and the club’s
board asked Wagenseil if he would bring
his Indian Rocks Beach sessions to
Clearwater in 2012.
Since then, the joint effort has a third twoweek session and all of the classes are full
day. The fleet now numbers seven Walker
Bay 8s, three Walker Bay 10s, eight Optis
and three Bugs. Volunteer instructors now
number seven and two adults stay on the
yacht club grounds during the training.
Indian Rocks Family Sailing Association,
now a non-profit organization, has 10
members on its board of directors. They
include two people appointed by the
Indian Rocks Rotary Club, two from the
fire district and two from Calvary
Sailing the Bug in the Indian Rocks program.
Episcopal. Four members, mostly parents,
are categorized as “at large.”
“In September 2013, I retired as rector at
the church,” Wagenseil said. “All I do now
is run the sailing program.
“We haven’t gone to any foundations and
we don’t get into grant writing, but I enjoy
giving various people an opportunity to
contribute to our program,” he said with a
slight grin. “And depending on the amount
of the donation, we may put a person’s
name on the transom of one of our boats.”
However, it is not all take and no give
with this program —not by a long shot. The
association’s mission statement reads:
“Bringing our community together to experience the gift of life under sail.” And its
spirit of giving continues.
Thus in 2015, Wagenseil had another
brainstorm that would help his community as well the association. His group would
host the inaugural Ted Irwin Memorial
Youth Sailathon, which is similar to a
walkathon but uses sailboats to benefit the
A couple of sailors on board and ready to sail in the Indian Rocks program.
Beach Community Food Pantry located at
Calvary Episcopal Church.
coxswains, midshipmen and watch captains,” he added.
It was named in memory of Ted Irwin, a well-known area
In 2010, he instituted an after-school program but ha to
sailor and boat builder. “The Irwin family were long-time
limit it to eight youngsters. They gather on Tuesdays and
members of Calvary Episcopal and are old friends of mine,”
Thursdays from 4 to 5:30. In 10 years, Wagenseil’s dream
Wagenseil explained. “We wanted to honor Ted in a way
grew from one week with 15 youths to a year-round organthat connected with the parish and with sailing.”
ization with more than 100 adults and children.
The principal sponsor was the local Rotary Club and
And while some people could regard this effort as an
young sailors from across Pinellas County not only comoutreach program for the church, Wagenseil makes it clear
mitted to four hours on the water but solicited additional
that there are different religious backgrounds among the
sponsors. Although the staging area was at Calvary
young sailors and their families.
Episcopal, the Clearwater Yacht Club served as co-host.
“Our children represent a broad spectrum of the
Wagenseil chose December because it is close to
human family,” he said. “We have kids from Florida,
Christmas. “After all, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of chilColorado and Poland. We are Christians, Muslims, Jews
dren and sailing,” he explained.
and non-religious families, but we are learning what it
The inaugural sailathon was held the first weekend in
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